ury. The painting of
this period has little to attract attention if regarded only from an
artistic stand-point, for we may truly say that, comparing it with the
Greek art which had preceded it, or with the Italian art which followed
it, that of the Middle Ages had no claim to the beautiful. On the other
hand, it is full of interest to students, because it has its part in the
history of art; therefore I shall give a mere outline of it, so that this
link in the chain which unites ancient and modern painting may not be
entirely wanting in our book.

Early mediaeval painting, down to about A.D. 950, consists principally of
paintings in burial-places, mosaics (usually in churches), and of
miniatures, or the illustration and illumination of _MSS._, which were the
books of that time, and were almost without exception religious writings.
This period is called the Early Period of the Middle Ages, and the
pictures are often called the works of Early Christian Art.

About 1050 a revival of intellectual pursuits began in some parts of
Europe, and from that time it may be said that the Renaissance, or new
birth of art and letters, was in its A B Cs, or very smallest beginnings.
The period between 950 and 1250 is often called the Central or Romanesque
Period of the Middle Ages, and it was during this time that glass-painting
originated; it is one of the most interesting features of art in mediaeval
times.

From 1250 to 1400 comes the Final or Gothic Period of the Middle Ages, and
this has some very interesting features which foretell the coming glory of
the great Renaissance.

THE EARLY PERIOD.

The paintings of the catacombs date from the third and fourth centuries
after Christ. The catacombs, or burial-places of the early Christians,
consist of long, narrow, subterranean passages, cut with regularity, and
crossing each other like streets in a city. The graves are in the sides of
these passages, and there are some larger rooms or chambers into which the
narrow passages run. There are about sixty of the catacombs in and near
Rome; they are generally called by the name of some saint who is buried in
them. The paintings are in the chambers, of which there are sometimes
several quite near each other. The reason for their being in these
underground places was that Christians were so persecuted under the
Romans, that they were obliged to do secretly all that they did as
Christians, so that no attention should be attracted to them.